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The one month countdown to Hackney Carnival is on!
22nd August 2024
Hackney Carnival returns to its roots on Sunday 22 September with a family-focused parade and exciting entertainment including live music stages, sound systems, a food market and children's areas. Over thirty carnival groups, including seventeen local bands who will be showcasing the borough’s diverse communities and creative talents, are set to join residents for a celebration of Hackney’s culture and heritage from 11am to 7pm.The parade of spectacular costumes, vibrant dance routines and live music, will make its way through Hackney Central, setting off at midday from Mentmore Terrace alongside London Fields, then down Mare Street to Graham Road and along Queensbridge Road, before ending back at London Fields via Richmond Road at around 5pm. See the full parade route here.The groups, led by artistic director Pax Nindi, will stop outside Hackney Town Hall to perform in front of a panel of judges, who will give out awards for the best live music, performances, dance routines and costumes on display.Along with the procession, Hackney Carnival will feature popular sound systems in Town Hall Square, the Town Hall Car Park, The Mews and Urswick School Yard, with a main stage and family-friendly activities around St John’s Church, street entertainment along the Narrow Way, and food stalls offering a variety of delicious cuisines.Hackney Carnival proudly honours the borough’s diversity and inclusivity, with a procession that includes participants of all ages and backgrounds, such as young children, elders, disabled people, and an LGBTQIA+ led group. Alongside performances inspired by cultural heritage, it features African acrobats, dancers, drummers, fire breathers, and lion masquerades. The procession showcases visiting and Hackney-based groups representing various cultures, including those from Ghana, Ireland, Senegal, Gambia, Trinidad, Jamaica, Montserrat, Brazil, Bolivia, and East Asia. Hackney Council is delighted to be working closely with emergency services and key partners in order to deliver a safe, family-friendly event. This will include the presence of security personnel, first aid stations, and information points. More information is available on the Hackney Carnival Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as the Love Hackney website. NOTESRead the FAQsSee the street parade route mapFor the full line-up and timings please visit lovehackney.uk/hackney-carnivalThe carnival parade will feature: UFO Steel Band Blema Dancers Taru Mi Viejo San SimonTinkus Puros Miskis Pantonic Steel OrchestraJun Mo GenerationsParaiso School of SambaParacarnival CIC Pan VibrationPeople of ParadiseUrban TouchSistah SpaceBaque de Axe MaracatuGAHU Dramatic ArtsLondon Academy of Irish (LAI) DanceMontserrat in the UKYaram ArtsTalentoTropical Isles FaggamuffinUnity No NonsenseJamboulay Carnival ArtsDimensions London Culture RiddimSoca MassiveUCOMSoca SagaboysNotting Hill CAMF Troupe NHC Carnival Village Trust Group Mahogany
“I did my best, and that’s all that matters”: Hackney students celebrate A-Level and BTec successes
16th August 2024
A-Level and BTec students across Hackney have been celebrating as they reunited with friends and teachers to collect their results, as Hackney schools continue to outperform the national average in the post-16 exams.Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley, Deputy Mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble and Director of Education and Inclusion Jason Marantz visited schools yesterday morning to congratulate students on their results.Solomon Akhahon, from Our Lady’s Catholic High School, said, “I’m very thankful to my teachers who pushed me to where I am today. I am very happy with my grades, and I’m hoping to go to university in Northampton to study Business Computing and improve my skills in computing and IT.”Prue Gilder, from Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form, is planning to go travelling before taking up her place at university. She said: “I did my best, and that’s all that matters.”Provisional figures for A-Levels exceed those from last year and are above those achieved across the country. These results are above those achieved, pre-pandemic, in 2019. Many schools have reported 100% success rates with students achieving Merits or above, particularly in BTecs.Zehra Jaffer, Headteacher at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form, said of her students: “I’m tremendously proud of our young people - they have been phenomenal and worked really hard and deserve the fantastic results that they have achieved. Congratulations too to our parents and our hardworking staff who have built those relationships to get the best from our young people.”Hackney’s students with additional special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have also achieved outstanding results, after overcoming additional challenges. One school has had a 100% success rate in securing university places, with another reporting that one student with an education, health and care (EHC) plan has gained entrance to Oxbridge.Mia Arthur, who is autistic and will be studying History and Politics at Murray Edwards College of the University of Cambridge, said: “Sixth Form was the most challenging thing I have experienced, but Mossbourne Community Academy motivated and pushed me the entire way - I'm so grateful.”Other notable successes include a sixth former with an EHC plan who is now pursuing Medicine at a Russell Group University, and an autistic pupil beginning a degree apprenticeship.Looking for further support? Get in touch with Hackney Works, which can help find you a further education course, explore employment opportunities or link you to a job, work placement, or apprenticeship with a local business: https://opportunities.hackney.gov.uk/support-2/